Fee’s eyes widened as he repeated the word back to him.
"Hero..."
Gomez turned back to the boy, who was lost in thought, reflecting on the word his brother so often used and the path he walked. The big man spoke quietly.
"Boy, what is your name?"
"...Fee. Fee Clay."
"I see... Fee, there is something I want to ask you."
When Gomez—a scarred mountain of a man with a terrifying presence—spoke to him directly, the sheer pressure was enough to overwhelm anyone.
But Fee did not flinch. He held his ground and met the man’s gaze as he waited.
Gomez narrowed his eyes, clearly impressed by the bravery of a child so much smaller than himself, and posed his question.
"A little while ago, someone carrying something just like this went on a rampage on another island. I heard the one who stopped him was a student from your school, Luminous Academy."
Fee gasped as Gomez pulled a Clear Plate from his pocket and held it up.
Seeing the boy's eyes fly open in recognition, Gomez knew he had found what he was looking for. He pressed on.
"Fee... do you know the name of the student who defeated the Magic Armor Beast created by this Plate?"
"...I do. But I have no reason to tell you."
"Hah...! Hah-hah-hah! Hahaha... Hahahaha!"
Gomez burst into a booming laugh, amused by Fee’s choice of words, which mirrored his own earlier statement.
While the passengers watched in stunned silence, Gomez looked back at the boy.
"You’re right about that. You have no obligation to answer a criminal like me. However... how about this?"
"Kyaa...!"
"Yui!?"
As he spoke, Gomez reached out and grabbed the arm of Yui, who had stayed close to Fee out of concern.
Fee turned pale and shouted her name, but Gomez merely gave him a testing smile.
"If you don't answer my question, this girl will suffer... If I put it that way, will you talk?"
"...If I answer, will you let Yui go?"
"Yes, you have my word."
Fee looked back and forth between Gomez’s calm nod and Yui’s frightened face. He let out a long sigh and gave the answer.
"...Hugo Clay. The one who defeated the Magic Armor Beast is my older brother."
"I see. So your courage was inherited from your brother."
Gomez murmured with a satisfied smile and released Yui as promised.
After gently nudging her back toward Fee, Gomez asked another question.
"One more thing. If your brother knew you were being held hostage, is he the kind of man who would board this ship to save you?"
"...Even if I wasn't a hostage, my brother would come to save everyone trapped on this ship. Because he’s a Hero."
"Heh... I see. A Hero. That explains a lot... Fee, I've decided I want to meet this brother of yours."
Gomez placed his hands on both Fee's and Yui's shoulders.
Laughing with genuine joy, he offered a deal.
"Fee, let's make a contract. From this moment on, I will take you and this girl as my personal hostages. In exchange, I won't let my subordinates lay a finger on any of the other passengers. We will summon your brother to this ship. I intend to add a few more conditions... but I will guarantee the safety of everyone on board until the battle between me and your brother begins."
"...Why would you do this? Why involve my brother—?"
Fee could sense that Gomez was a man who intended to keep his promises.
What he couldn't understand was why a man committing a crime like a sea-jack would go out of his way to summon the one person capable of stopping him.
Fee wondered if he was simply arrogant, wanting to prove his strength by defeating the man who had taken down other Plate holders... but Gomez answered his unspoken question with a lonely smile.
"...I am looking for someone who can kill me."
"What...?"
"Forgive me, Fee. Your brother is the most suitable person I can imagine for that purpose. I’m sorry, but I’m going to use you and your brother to get what I want."
The ship suddenly lurched. Fee assumed the Security Force members who had boarded the ship were now clashing with Gomez’s men below deck.
But that didn't matter to him right now. He was stuck on the man’s confession—that he was seeking his own death.
Gomez likely wouldn't explain his reasons even if asked.
He undoubtedly had circumstances that Fee couldn't begin to fathom.
Still... there was something Fee felt he absolutely had to say. He stared straight into Gomez's eyes.
"...If everyone's safety is guaranteed by taking me hostage, then do what you must. But... I don't think you'll get what you're after."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"My brother won't kill you. Not ever."
Gomez caught his breath, staring at the boy who possessed such absolute faith in his sibling.
The man looked back at Fee with eyes that seemed to hold both affection and a deep sense of guilt. Finally, Gomez spoke.
"...He must be a wonderful brother. I truly regret that I have to force such a man to stain his hands."
With those somber words, Gomez took a firm hold of Fee and Yui.
On the now-quiet deck, listening to the heavy footsteps of men rushing toward them, Gomez offered one final apology to the young boy.
"I’m sorry, Fee. And to the rest of you... I am truly sorry."
"Don't move! Release the hostages and surrender!"
Security Force members arrived on the deck with weapons drawn, screaming at Gomez.
Having said his peace, Gomez’s face hardened with grim resolve. He gripped the Plate engraved with winding characters tightly, and then—!